Dutch legend Ruud Gullit has warned Liverpool to beware a Manchester City backlash - from fans and players.

Gullit, a two-time European Cup winner reckons Pep Guardiola’s men have the firepower to overturn a 3-0 first-leg deficit at the Etihad on Tuesday night to qualify for the Champions League semi-finals.

And he also believes that City’s players have been given an extra incentive to eliminate Jurgen Klopp’s side by the pre-match attack that saw their team bus wrecked by bottle-throwing Liverpool fans.

Gullit said: “Jurgen Klopp will know that the battle has not been decided yet.

“For me the other three semi-finalists are definites – Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Chelsea and Holland legend Ruud Gullit with his partner (Image: PA)

“But in the case of Man City versus Liverpool nobody can guarantee Liverpool will make the last four.

“There will surprises in the return leg – and Klopp will remember better than anyone else he was wiped off the park earlier this season when his side lost 5-0 at the Etihad.

James Milner of Liverpool will play a key role in the Reds engine room (Image: Andrew Powell)

“The hostility they will feel on Tuesday will be the obvious result of the attacks on the coach.

“Liverpool fans attacking that coach in the streets around Anfield will cause a hostile reception at the Etihad.”

Police guard the coach as it pulls into Anfield (Image: REX/Shutterstock)

Gullit believes Liverpool’s midfield three of James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Jordan Henderson provided the platform for Liverpool’s sensational performance at Anfield.

But Henderson is suspended for the return.

And the Dutchman added: “The key figures on Tuesday will be the midfielders for Liverpool. Pep Guardiola has a better midfield at his disposal, but it was fascinating to see how Henderson, Milner and Oxlade-Chamberlain never gave City’s world stars a second.

Ruud Gullit looks on during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier between the Netherlands and Bulgaria (Image: Dean Mouhtaropoulos)

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“They put so much pressure on them, that City never got the chance to dominate the game.

“The only two questions at this world class level are how long can Liverpool’s players keep that insane tempo going, and can City score goals in that time?

“I love the big teams who have the guts to grab the opponent by the throat. Barcelona does it, Bayern Munich does it, normally Man City does it. Now Liverpool have joined the big, attacking teams.”